IT Execs

Join us on Saturday, the 06th of June 2026 from 6.30 P.M. to 9 P.M. for an insightful evening of education, fun and learning. Alongside a trio of prepared speeches, this meeting will also include an insightful educational module on meeting roles and responsibilities. This meeting will also consist of an impromptu speaking session which will enable guests to deliver a short 1-2 minute speech along with an an insightful evaluation and feedback session. Additionally, the meeting will also serve to introduce the new Executive Committee for the 2026/27 who will take the club forward. Guests are wholeheartedly welcome to join us and be a part of proceedings. However, prior confirmation is appreciated at least by Monday, the 01st of June 2026 for ease of planning and logistics.

**Hello, my name is Abdulrahman and I’m a passionate desert guide based in Qatar. I have several years of experience driving in the desert and sharing the beauty of Qatar’s landscapes with visitors from around the world.** **I have extensive experience navigating the Qatari desert and guiding guests through safe and thrilling dune bashing routes. I’m knowledgeable about the desert environment, local culture, and the best locations for incredible desert views and sunset photography.** **I specialize in private desert safari experiences using a 4x4 Land Cruiser, ensuring both safety and excitement during dune bashing adventures. My goal is to give guests an authentic and memorable experience while exploring the stunning dunes and desert scenery of Qatar.** **I take pride in providing a personalized experience for every guest, focusing on comfort, safety, and unforgettable moments in the desert.** **My experiences are designed to provide high-quality service and a premium private adventure. Guests appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe driving, and the opportunity to explore Qatar’s beautiful desert in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle.** **———————————————————————————** **What to expect:** **-You will be Experiencing thrilling dune bashing in a luxury 4x4, where comfort meets adventure in the stunning desert.** **-Guests will enjoy a scenic desert photo stops at the stunning dunes, perfect for capturing breathtaking views.** **-We’ll visit the ocean at the inland sea (where the Golden Sahara desert meet the crystal-clear ocean, creating a rare and unforgettable natural landscape).** **-You will be experiencing the sunset unfold in the dessert, filling the sky and water with breathtaking colors.** **———————————————————————————** **Additional to the trip:** **-You can choose an optional camel ride to add a rich cultural touch to your desert adventure, connecting with tradition. (additional cost) and can be booked when we arrive.** **-You can also choose an optional quad biking** **(1 seater, 2 seater) or dunes buggy (4 seater) to add to your adventure and add a bit more excitement in the desert.(additional cost) and can be booked when we arrive.** **———————————————————————————** **Where to meet:** **-name of the meeting place on google maps (Mina Hotel and Residences By The Torch)** **Be there by 2:00 (P.M) Sharp.** **Or——————** **-if you are only one private group i will pick you up from the (Hotel / accommodation) and back after the trip is done.** **———————————————————————————** **What to bring:** **-preferable bring hat.** **-with the hot weather better to wear something light.** **———————————————————————————** **What's Included:** **Dune bashing** **Inland Sea visit** **Local Tea** **Professional English-speaking Guide** **Camel ride (can be booked on site)** **Quad bike ride (can be booked on site)** **Sunset** **Transportation in an air-conditioned 4x4** **Luxury Landcruiser** **Unlimited water** **———————————————————————————** **What's NOT Included:** **Any extra services or expenses not mentioned as included.** **——-————————————————————————** **Additional info:** **• Not wheelchair accessible** **• Service animals not allowed** **• Infants must sit on laps** **• Not recommended for travelers with back problems** **• Not recommended for pregnant travelers** **• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions** **• Most travelers can participate**

Join us on Saturday, the 06th of June 2026 from 6.30 P.M. to 9 P.M. for an insightful evening of education, fun and learning. Alongside a trio of prepared speeches, this meeting will also include an insightful educational module on meeting roles and responsibilities. This meeting will also consist of an impromptu speaking session which will enable guests to deliver a short 1-2 minute speech along with an an insightful evaluation and feedback session. Additionally, the meeting will also serve to introduce the new Executive Committee for the 2026/27 who will take the club forward. Guests are wholeheartedly welcome to join us and be a part of proceedings. However, prior confirmation is appreciated at least by Monday, the 01st of June 2026 for ease of planning and logistics.

**Hello, my name is Abdulrahman and I’m a passionate desert guide based in Qatar. I have several years of experience driving in the desert and sharing the beauty of Qatar’s landscapes with visitors from around the world.** **I have extensive experience navigating the Qatari desert and guiding guests through safe and thrilling dune bashing routes. I’m knowledgeable about the desert environment, local culture, and the best locations for incredible desert views and sunset photography.** **I specialize in private desert safari experiences using a 4x4 Land Cruiser, ensuring both safety and excitement during dune bashing adventures. My goal is to give guests an authentic and memorable experience while exploring the stunning dunes and desert scenery of Qatar.** **I take pride in providing a personalized experience for every guest, focusing on comfort, safety, and unforgettable moments in the desert.** **My experiences are designed to provide high-quality service and a premium private adventure. Guests appreciate the friendly atmosphere, safe driving, and the opportunity to explore Qatar’s beautiful desert in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle.** **———————————————————————————** **What to expect:** **-You will be Experiencing thrilling dune bashing in a luxury 4x4, where comfort meets adventure in the stunning desert.** **-Guests will enjoy a scenic desert photo stops at the stunning dunes, perfect for capturing breathtaking views.** **-We’ll visit the ocean at the inland sea (where the Golden Sahara desert meet the crystal-clear ocean, creating a rare and unforgettable natural landscape).** **-You will be experiencing the sunset unfold in the dessert, filling the sky and water with breathtaking colors.** **———————————————————————————** **Additional to the trip:** **-You can choose an optional camel ride to add a rich cultural touch to your desert adventure, connecting with tradition. (additional cost) and can be booked when we arrive.** **-You can also choose an optional quad biking** **(1 seater, 2 seater) or dunes buggy (4 seater) to add to your adventure and add a bit more excitement in the desert.(additional cost) and can be booked when we arrive.** **———————————————————————————** **Where to meet:** **-name of the meeting place on google maps (Mina Hotel and Residences By The Torch)** **Be there by 2:00 (P.M) Sharp.** **Or——————** **-if you are only one private group i will pick you up from the (Hotel / accommodation) and back after the trip is done.** **———————————————————————————** **What to bring:** **-preferable bring hat.** **-with the hot weather better to wear something light.** **———————————————————————————** **What's Included:** **Dune bashing** **Inland Sea visit** **Local Tea** **Professional English-speaking Guide** **Camel ride (can be booked on site)** **Quad bike ride (can be booked on site)** **Sunset** **Transportation in an air-conditioned 4x4** **Luxury Landcruiser** **Unlimited water** **———————————————————————————** **What's NOT Included:** **Any extra services or expenses not mentioned as included.** **——-————————————————————————** **Additional info:** **• Not wheelchair accessible** **• Service animals not allowed** **• Infants must sit on laps** **• Not recommended for travelers with back problems** **• Not recommended for pregnant travelers** **• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions** **• Most travelers can participate**

Grab a drink or some food and get to know each other. This is our first event and we can take it slow. I’d love to meet everyone and hear if there’s anything you like to get out of the group. Looking forward to meeting you all!

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

We are bringing Microsoft Build sessions to Columbus Ohio! The Central Ohio Azure Meetup and Central Ohio .NET Developer's Group (CONDG) are coming together to bring some of the labs and breakouts from Microsoft Build to your backyard. In this free, 1 day event, you are going to Build stuff with us! And yes, there will be free food. So please RSVP for a head count!

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!